BAe/Ansett Flying College

For some time, the establishment of the BAe/Ansett college was an on-off affair, its original start up date being regularly moved back due to the pilots’ dispute of late 1989, recession, and deregulation. But now this modern, professional establishment is operational with early courses underway, building complete and the delivery of aircraft rolling along. When deliveries are completed, the college’s fleet will comprise 1 2 Pacific Aerospace CT-4B Airtrainers, 24 Aerospatiale TB 10 Tobagos and nine twin engined Piper Senecas. Six more Tobagos are on option.

The aerobatic CT-4 will be used as the college’s basic trainer and it is on these aircraft that the cadets will undergo 50hours of flying, including their first solo and embracing general handling, aerobatics, instrument flying and navigation.

The student will however spend most of his or her 200 flying hours on the Tobago, a total of 105 hours in all. Equipped with an extensive avionics fit including HF radio, the Tobagos will be used for the intermediate stage of the course which will bring the student up to the advanced flying course, comprising a minimum 45 hours on the Seneca. At the end of that, the student will emerge with a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL) with multi engine and instrument ratings.

The complete course lasts 60 weeks, comprising 200 hours in the air, 1,172 hours in ground school ai,d 100hours in Frasca simulators. The ground school part of the course covers the necessary theoretical and technical subjects including those required by any pilot plus others appropriate to the course. Included are numerous ‘general studies’ subjects, among them physical education, first aid, finance, world trade, stress management, decision making, leadership training and cultural and educational visits.

An important part of the ground school element of the course is that dealing with Line Oriented Flight Training (LOFT) which is the bridge between the college’s commercial flying course and the sponsoring airline’s training programme and method of operation. Included in this is 60 hours in a Boeing 737 simulator with the LOFT programme being tailored to meet the particular needs of the airline involved.

Technology is evident at the BAe/Ansett Flying College with computer based training methods incorporating audio visual aids very much to the fore. The air-conditioned classrooms incorporate a computer terminal for the instructor and consoles for each student. Using this method,the instructor can ask the students multiple choice questions which are answered by pushing the appropriate button on their consoles. By looking at his own screen, the instructor can see at a glance who is right and who is wrong and take remedial action if necessary.

The BAe/Ansett Flying College is capable of accepting 16 new cadet pilots per month with a maximum of 224in residence at any one time. Normally, groups of 16from the same spons. oring airline will arrive at Tamworth and all this obviously requires a substantial infrastructure. Cadets are accommodated in a Hall of Residence adjacent to the college, each with his or her own unit comprising a combined bedroom/study and ensuite bathroom.

The units are serviced daily and additional facilities include a dining area, lounge, bar, laundry, swimming pool, tennis courts, playing fields and gymnasium. Accommodation and office facilities are available for visitors from the sponsoring airline.

Given the location of the college (Tamworth provides an excellent flying environment and weather) and the professionalism and high standards already evident evenin these early days, this flying training institution is bound to succeed. The precedent has already been set by the BAe Prestwick college and the current pilot availability cycle seems to be just entering a phase where more will be needed as the decade progresses and airlines emerge from the recession. Asian airlines,particularly, are seen as having great potential for the college.

The college has already made its mark on Australian aviation history by being awarded the Australian Defence Forces flying training/flight screening contract, the first time this has been entrusted to a civilian operator.